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Field Visit
Date 4 August 1913
Event ID 1087105
Category Recording
Type Field Visit
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1087105
Situated on the east side of the Island of Fidra, above the landing stage, are the remains of a church. The structure is orientated and has been double chambered, combining choir and sanctuary of equal widths. The sanctuary has been some 19 feet long and separated by an arch 2 ¾ feet thick from the choir, which was 39 ¼ feet in length. The span of the structure is 20 ½ feet. The gables have been 3 feet and the lateral walls 2 ¾ feet in thickness.
Only the north wall now remains; the others can be traced solely by foundations. The former is some 12 to 15 feet in height and a length of 44 feet is still standing. It is built of igneous rock irregularly coursed with grey sandstone dressings. In the north wall of the 'sanctuary there is a lancet window 1 foot 4 inches wide with an obtusely pointed head and semi-circular scoinson arch; a splay is wrought on the jambs. An aperture at the western end appears to have been a round arched north door. West of this is a small roughly finished window. The structure probably dates from the early 13th century. From the west end of the building other foundations run in a southerly direction towards the creek.
HISTORICAL NOTE. The church in Fidra or ‘island of Elbotle’ was dedicated to St. Nicholas and served by the canons of Dryburgh. In the reign of William the Lion (c. 1170) William de Vaux (cf. [RCAHMS 1924] No. 27 [Dirleton Castle]) granted to it the patronage of the church at Gullane, and the grant was confirmed by his son John. A later William c. 1220 made a grant to the canons of the island itself, with land in the ‘territory of Elbotyle’ on the mainland immediately opposite. Two canons were understood to reside and celebrate on the island. But about 1240 Alexander de Vaux ‘in consideration of the imminent dangers of times present and to come’ released Dryburgh from the necessity of maintaining that chantry (illam cantariam) as hitherto on the island itself, or of building or sending canons to live on it. Instead a canon was to be provided at ‘Stodfald’ on the mainland and another in Dryburgh to pray for the souls of this de Vaux' ancestors and successors (1). It does not seem, therefore, that the building was ever completed.
RCAHMS 1924, visited 4 August 1913.
(1) Liber de Dryburgh passim.
